Littlepage: Keep the Northbank Riverwalk open to fishing

[John P]

Hire more Downtown Ambassadors and assign a couple to the riverwalk to patrol. We need more of the ambassadors period. People don't know but they do a lot of work in downtown cleaning up messes, reporting panhandling, and other things that make downtown a better place to be.

[Duvaltopia]

Has our homophobic do-nothing Mayor Brown fixed the broken up dock in front of the auditorium yet? It's been taped off and unusable since before last year's Georgia/Florida game. One full year. No fix. Mayor Brown presents...

[simms3]

Littlepage has a problem with bikers and skateboarders who "come zooming by you" but not fishermen with their potentially hazardous poles, their bait & tackle, the trash they leave, and the additional bird poop likely created by all the fish parts and "snacks" for the wonderful pidgeons and gulls.  Call me a snob, but I know lots of people will agree that the fishermen who use "public land" aren't the most desirable people to have around if you're trying to build up a haven for tourists and downtown dwellers.  I can't recall a CBD area anywhere that I've seen where there are such fishermen actually fishing on the same block as suits and tourists - none of the great waterfront cities I can think of feature such a group, so I would think Jax would be fine joining them in banning it.  If having a bunch of gruff men drinking Budweiser and cleaning SJR fish on the public sidewalk, leaving parts for the birds are your idea of adding to downtown "vibrancy", then we have two different ideas of downtown vibrancy.

Just throwing it out there that this isn't their only option   As has already been pointed out, they can continue going to Stockton and Memorial parks among others, Ortega Bridge and Sister's Creek bridge among others, they can always spring for a little river/flatboat - hey there's an idea!, Trout River Bridge, etc etc

[thelakelander]

We have two different ideas of vibrancy.  I believe cities develop organically and it's best to find solutions that don't result in specific groups of people getting kicked out. Maybe the answer is to identify a certain concentrated location within the Northbank where these activities can occur (ex. a Shipyards pier, etc.).

[simms3]

^^^Well they aren't helpless like the homeless and they have lots of perhaps even better options, so while I am against "kicking out the homeless" as many have tried and proposed, the fishermen are a different story.  They add to Jacksonville culture as a sort of "poor fishing village" type of city, but if Jacksonville's trying to move on to be a bold, clean, positive-image city in a way it can, then fueling the old image by allowing this downtown is contradictory.  Perhaps the shipyards piers, yes, since there is nothing over there and nobody to disturb.  In front of the Hyatt, Friendship Fountain, between the Acosta and Fuller Warren, etc NO.

[thelakelander]

Coming from a family of "poor fishing village" people, I view it as authentic and real to this region. A truly vibrant place finds ways where all of its residents can enjoy the setting. I believe there's room for the rich, middle class and poor to enjoy our amenities and assets within a compact setting like DT.

[acme54321]

There is nothing wrong with people fishing.  It becomes a problem though when they trash the place.  No one wan't to step over a rotting dead fish, shring cakes, and see trash scattered all over.

[thelakelander]

No doubt. However, it seems like an enforcement issue to a degree. It's obviously a popular activity since the problems are large enough to place an outright ban. Seems that a better solution would be to select a spot or two, where fishing could be allowed, and ticket those who don't pick up after themselves.

[Cheshire Cat]

No doubt. However, it seems like an enforcement issue to a degree. It's obviously a popular activity since the problems are large enough to place an outright ban. Seems that a better solution would be to select a spot or two, where fishing could be allowed, and ticket those who don't pick up after themselves.

I also see it as an enforcement issue.

[Tacachale]

Coming from a family of "poor fishing village" people, I view it as authentic and real to this region. A truly vibrant place finds ways where all of its residents can enjoy the setting. I believe there's room for the rich, middle class and poor to enjoy our amenities and assets within a compact setting like DT.

I'd much rather Jacksonville was a "poor fishing village" than an empty village, or one only inhabited by 9-5 suits and no one else. I don't believe the Beaches is regarded as a "poor fishing village" and there's a lot more fishing going on out there than in Downtown. I wonder what they do differently to clean up the messes.

It's plain to see there's a major litter problem caused by some fishermen, and it doesn't just happen downtown. Hopefully we can ultimately find a way to better enforce the existing litter laws than eliminating fishing entirely.

[Jason]

How many trashcans are there on the northbank riverwalk and how often are they changed?   

From what I've seen, they are few and far between and the ones around The Landing seem to constantly be overflowing.  My point is that if there is nowhere convenient to put the trash then people will throw it wherever they want. 

Frankly, I think it is a disgrace that people throw trash everywhere so willingly (especially smokers) with no regard for their neighborhoods.  But still, if there is not a good place to put it, where will it end up?

Allow fishing (at least in disignated areas) but make damn sure to provide regularly emptied trash and fishing line receptacles and enforce cleanliness.  Hell, what would be wrong with a cleaning station at designated fishing areas?  That would go a long way toward helping with the guts and carcasses.

[Noone]

Was on the Northbank Sat. 2/13/16 and there is a brand New No Fishing sign at the Tillie Fowler Memorial next to the Y under construction.

[Know Growth]

We harp over "River Access", fisherperson "Rights" however truly implementing expanded, useful and meaningful "access" that accommodates active engagement & connection with the river would come at a cost and only as a matter of true priority.
Even recently, considerable undeveloped downtown waterfront passed out of public ownership,only to be consigned to minimal public waterfront engagement access. (JEA/Healthy Towne)

An expanded access complex would accommodate designated fishing areas rather than relying on Riverwalk.

Ron Littlepage's opinion piece does not sway and might possibly water down expanded river access placement.
I oppose Riverwalk fishing,better to recognize current Yeehaa River Access,critical needs than to force fishing where it does not belong.

[Noone]

March 17, St. Patrick's Day 2016 was my Pot of Gold with a 26 3/4 inch 10 spot red drum harvested on the Northbank within the 4.8 miles River edge zone of 2014-560 from my SMART kayak 2016-131 that was launched from my unofficial Duval County DUMB Van Down by the River.

[Noone]

We have two different ideas of vibrancy.  I believe cities develop organically and it's best to find solutions that don't result in specific groups of people getting kicked out. Maybe the answer is to identify a certain concentrated location within the Northbank where these activities can occur (ex. a Shipyards pier, etc.).

+1
2016-305 and we got an "AMEN" from Littlepage after the 5/11/16 Jacksonville Waterways Commission meeting. Stephanie Birch, Public Works/Real Estate told the Finance committee of the Jacksonville city council about the authorized use of the lease being identified as SHIPYARDS PUBLIC FISHING PIER.

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